Breast-feeding mothers - self-care

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Breast feeding

Estrogen-containing birth control pills are not recommended for breastfeeding women, because they may affect milk supply.

WORKING OUTSIDE THE HOME

Mothers face unique obstacles in maintaining adequate milk supply once they return to work. With planning, commitment, and skilled use of a breast pump, breastfeeding mothers can maintain their milk supply and continue breastfeeding even after returning to work outside the home.

A maternity leave is helpful for establishing your milk supply and breastfeeding skills before returning to work. An ideal work place would provide a private room for breastfeeding moms, with a comfortable chair and an electric breast pump for use by all nursing mothers.

However, many moms have had success using a hand breast pump and a bathroom stall for privacy. Many women prefer the speed of the electric breast pump. Hospital-quality pumps are available for rent through medical supply stores. Personal, portable models are available for purchase.

MAINTAINING YOUR MILK SUPPLY

Here are some tips that have worked well for many breastfeeding mothers who work fulltime outside the home:

1. If you plan to return to work, introduce your baby to bottle-feeding at 3 to 4 weeks of age. This allows plenty of time to establish good feeding habits. Starting bottle-feeds before 2 weeks of age often results in nipple confusion -- the baby has difficulty changing between the different sucking patterns required for the different types of feeding.
2. Two weeks before you return to work, buy or rent an efficient and comfortable breast pump and start building up a supply of frozen milk. If the day you return to work arrives and you don't have a freezer full of breast milk, one bottle of formula fed to your baby will be an adequate supplement. After returning to work, express milk 2 or 3 times a day, every 2 to 3 hours to continue exclusively breastfeeding. If you can only get one break a day and you are unable to pump a full day's allotment in one pumping, a supplemental bottle of formula may be needed. Be aware, however, that feeding formula decreases the need for breast milk, and your milk supply will decrease accordingly.
3. Nurse your baby immediately before leaving in the morning and immediately upon return from work in late afternoon. Many mothers find that their babies nurse more frequently in the evenings on days they work. Feed on-demand when you are with your baby.
4. If possible, arrange to nurse your baby at lunch time.
5. Try to breastfeed exclusively when you are with your baby (evenings, nighttime, weekends).
6. Delegate and share household responsibilities with other members of the family.